The Kellogg Co. has joined the ranks of past honorees PepsiCo, Coca-Cola Co. and Proctor and Gamble Co. as America's Second Harvest donor of the year for 2005.

Mike Halligan, senior vice president of food sourcing and logistics for the Chicago-based nonprofit, said Kellogg was chosen because of its long-term commitment to making a difference, innovations in giving programs and annual volume and increase in volume of giving.

"What helps set Kellogg apart from other organizations is at the end of the day they are helping get food to people who need it," Halligan said Monday morning while in Battle Creek to present the award to the company.

It's nice to see a hometown company win the donor of the year award, said Bob Randels, executive director of the Food Bank of Southcentral Michigan, a member of the Second Harvest network of food banks.

"It's just a really nice tribute to Kellogg," Randels said. "We were started because of the Kellogg Co., and there is a long list of things they have done to deserve the award, not just giving."

One of the innovations for which Kellogg was recognized was its "line salvage" program where food that ordinarily would have been thrown away because of defective packaging are retrieved, repackaged and donated to the food bank.

But that program is only a small portion of what the company donates, said Tim Knowlton, Kellogg's vice president of corporate and social responsibility.

Kellogg earlier this year also gave more than $1 million in cash and food to Second Harvest to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"This really is a partnership that allows our products to be distributed to hungry people all over our community," Knowlton said. "We know the food bank will safely store, distribute and manage our donations and get them to the people who need them most.

"We just feel really good working with them."

Chris Springsteen covers Battle Creek City Hall and Emmett Township. He can be reached at 966-0676 or at csprings@battlecr.gannett.com. Read his blog in the News Extras area at battlecreekenquirer.com.

Originally published November 1, 2005

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